Why the world loves giant Christmas trees

Giant Christmas trees, adorned with twinkling lights and shimmering ornaments, are a ubiquitous symbol of the festive season. But for some cities, bigger isn’t just better; it’s a tradition.

The title of ‘world’s largest Christmas tree’ is a hotly contested one, with various contenders vying for the crown based on height, scale or sheer spectacle.

There are several reasons why cities invest in these colossal Christmas trees:

Boosting tourism: A giant Christmas tree becomes a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors eager to witness the festive spectacle. This translates to increased revenue for hotels, restaurants, and shops in the surrounding area

• Festive spirit: A towering tree serves as a focal point for the city’s Christmas celebrations, creating a sense of community and shared joy
• Breaking records: The allure of holding a Guinness World Record for the biggest Christmas tree adds another layer of prestige and media attention.

The world’s largest Christmas tree

Let’s delve into some of the most notable contenders for the ‘world’s largest Christmas tree’ title:

Dortmund, Germany: Currently holding the unofficial crown for the tallest cut Christmas tree, Dortmund boasts a behemoth that reaches around 46 metres (150 feet) every year. This impressive tree is made with 1,700 spruces and adorned with 48,000 lights, takes four weeks to construct and forms the centrepiece of the city’s renowned Christmas market

Gubbio, Italy: While not technically a single tree, Gubbio offers a unique spectacle. Christmas lights are strung on the slopes of Mount Ingino, creating a 750-metre (2,460-foot) tall, illuminated Christmas tree visible for miles around. This tradition dates to the 1930s and is a remarkable feat of engineering and design. It’s known as the ‘Gubbio Christmas Tree’ or the ‘biggest Christmas tree in the world’

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Another metallic creation is this floating creation in Rio de Janeiro which impresses. Their Christmas tree, constructed on a platform on Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, has held the record for the tallest floating Christmas tree in the past, reaching heights of 88 meters (278 feet) in 2007. It gets lit every year with lights and is the city’s third most popular attraction.

These are just a few examples, and the contenders for the ‘world’s largest Christmas tree’ title can change depending on how you define ‘largest’!

Uprooted trees and decorations

Here’s a closer look at the tradition of using uprooted trees and the decorations used:

• Uprooted trees: While some cities opt for artificial trees, the tradition in many places involves a real, uprooted tree. This can be a source of controversy, with concerns raised about environmental impact. However, some cities have sustainable practices in place, such as planting a new tree for each one cut down
• Decorations: The decorations on these giant trees vary depending on location and budget. Twinkling lights are a mainstay, often strung in elaborate patterns or cascading down the branches.  Large ornaments, stars, and angels are also common sights, creating a dazzling display that can be seen from afar.

Beyond size, some trees have broken records for their unique features:

Sri Lanka: In 2016, Sri Lanka unveiled the world’s tallest artificial Christmas tree, a 72.1-metre (236-foot) giant constructed from steel, wire and netting. Over a million painted pinecones and 600,000 LED lights transformed this structure into a truly festive landmark

Northgate Shopping Center, Seattle (USA): While no longer holding the record, the Christmas tree erected at the Northgate Shopping Center in 1950 deserves a mention. This 64.6-metre (212-foot) Douglas fir was a record-breaker for its time and a testament to the lengths some go to for a showstopping Christmas display

Trafalgar Square, London: Trafalgar Square in London has a tradition of receiving a Christmas tree from Norway every year. It began in 1947 when King Haakon VII of Norway gifted Great Britain with a Christmas tree as a token of thanks for the country’s support during World War II. The tradition continues and a large Norwegian spruce graces Trafalgar Square, adorned with 500 lights. The tree tends to be more than 20 metres, or 65 ft, every year – in 2023, the tree was 19 metres tall.

• Rockefeller Center, New York City, USA: The iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a must-see attraction. It is an 82-foot-tall spruce, that’s nearly 23 metres, typically sourced from the forests of Norway, and covered with thousands of lights and a dazzling star topper encrusted with millions of crystals.

Why do countries decorate large trees?

The tradition of decorating Christmas trees goes back centuries and varies across cultures. Here are some reasons why so many countries participate in this festive practice:

Symbolism and celebration: Christmas trees symbolise life, hope and renewal. Decorating them is to celebrate the festive season and create a joyful atmosphere

Pagan origins: The custom of bringing evergreen trees indoors during winter predates Christianity. Ancient pagan cultures believed that evergreens represented eternal life and protection against evil spirits

• Christian tradition: The tradition of having a Christmas tree became popular in Europe during the Middle Ages. According to the legend, a German Protestant reformer called Martin Luther was inspired by the sight of stars shining through the branches of an evergreen tree that he decorated a tree with candles to copy the effect
• National pride: Many countries take pride in displaying large Christmas trees as a symbol of national unity and festive spirit. It’s a way to bring communities together.

Record-breaking Christmas trees

• Most expensive decorated tree: The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi displayed a tree worth $11 million in 2010 (that’s about £12.4m today). Covered in gold and silver, it featured 181 pieces of jewellery
• Oldest Christmas tree: A fragile pine tree in Chippenham, UK, purchased in 1886, holds the record for being the world’s oldest Christmas tree. It’s an artificial tree that stands just 30cm tall and was possibly bought from Woolworths
• Largest artificial tree: Before Sri Lanka took the crown, China achieved this feat with a 55-meter (180.4 feet) tree covered in green synthetic foliage and ornaments
• Fastest tree decoration: Sharon Juantuah in the UK set the record by decorating a tree in just 36.89 seconds. Fancy your chances at breaking the record? Apply to the Guinness Book of World Records.
• Cutest tree: For us, the cutest tree must be the towering tradition that began when a Christmas tree was planted in 1978 by Avril and Chris Rowlands in their front garden in Inkberrow. It’s now a much-loved landmark which raises £1,000 for charity every year. It towers 15m or 50ft and needs more than 1,000 lights to decorate it.

Why we love Christmas trees

It’s not just the fun-loving team at Christmas.co.uk that loves Christmas trees, it appears that most of the world does too.

Christmas trees, whether natural or artificial, continue to catch our attention during the festivities.

From towering giants to delicate tree ornaments, they remind us of the magic of Christmas.